Central Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area - CISMA

05/13/2026

Another awesome and fun event for everyone to check out!

We are only 10 days away from the 2nd annual River Race of Two Cities Canoe/Kayak Marathon!

We are excited to see everyone and celebrate not only Memorial Weekend, but the natural resources and recreational opportunities that Gladwin County provides.

If you haven't signed up to race and would like to, please click on the link provided. Registration ends May 21 at 11am. We hope to see you there!

Sign Up Here 👉https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Gladwin/GladwinCountyRiverRaceOfTwoCities

05/13/2026

Check out this awesome event with Michigan Forest Association!

05/08/2026

If you're looking to do something with the family this Saturday, check out Family Day at Forest Hill Nature Area, Alma MI! Central Michigan CISMA will be there with some fun new games for kids to learn about invasive species!

Looking for something low cost and fun to do this Saturday? Join us for Family Day at Forest Hill Nature Area! Crafts, activities and outdoor exploring! We open at 10am!

05/04/2026

The Central Michigan CISMA held a Women Owning and Appreciating Woodlands event this past Saturday with partners from Little Forks Conservancy, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, and Gladwin Conservation District.

It was a great day of learning about wetlands, invasive species, and gardening. Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe brought over their Enviroscape and gave a demonstration on how different pollutants get into out watersheds. Thank you to all who attended and a big thank you to the partners who helped make this event happen!

If you or someone you know are interested in attending events with the Central Michigan CISMA or it's partners, please give us a follow!

04/29/2026

Do you part to stay informed about harmful diseases that affect our trees. Oak wilt has been spreading through the Central Michigan CISMA service area. Be mindful of the pruning bans for oak trees from April 15 to July 15. If you must prune a tree in that time, take preventative actions to seal the tree wounds to stop the spread of Oak wilt 🌳

Every year, thousands of oak trees in Michigan fall victim to the devastating oak wilt disease. While completely eradicating the disease might be a tough goal, there's definitely hope in slowing its spread and saving more of these beautiful trees.

Taking steps to control oak wilt begins with landowners. Understanding the disease cycle helps guide smarter pruning choices, making a positive difference for these vital trees. http://spr.ly/6180BBBAcg

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! It's a the perfect day to get outside and enjoy nature 🌿🦌🐝🌳

Another great way to get involved is to check out the Earth Action Expo this Saturday at H.H. Dow High School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Central Michigan CISMA coordinator will be there to answer any of your invasive species questions!

04/15/2026

When you're out roaming the woods, be on the lookout for this invasive plant. Lesser celandine! Make sure you report to Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) or to your local CISMA coordinator.

Be on the lookout for lesser celandine!

Lesser celandine emerges in early spring, thriving in moist, lowland environments including forest floors, riverbanks and floodplains. It is also hardy enough to spread into lawns and other upland areas. It rapidly spreads via bulbils and tubers outcompeting native spring ephemerals.

Experts in nearly all Midwest states cite lesser celandine as a priority plant of concern (https://mipn.org/prevent-detect/ ). Below is a list of resources to help you learn more about this plant, including where it has been detected and how to identify, report, and control it.

Blog Post: Lesser Celandine: An Early Detection Priority for Midwest Forests
https://woodyinvasives.org/blog/

Webinar recording: Expanding Awareness of Lesser Celandine in the Midwest
https://youtu.be/6TalBIOThR0?si=DZNGuT4tKbkCFEw0

Flyer: Protect Our Midwest Forests
https://mipn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Protect-our-Forests_Accessible021626.pdf

Additional Resources
Michigan Eyes on the Forest Priority Plant Patrol
https://iforest.misin.msu.edu/ppp/

University of Minnesota Extension – Terrestrial Invasive Plants
https://tips.umn.edu/lesser-celandine

University of Wisconsin Renz W**d Science Fact Sheet
https://renzweedscience.cals.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/177/2026/03/Hort-Factsheet-Lesser-Celandine.pdf

Photo credits Katy Chayka, Minnesota Wildflowers

04/10/2026

Earth and Arbor Day are right around the corner! Check out our upcoming events and see how you can get involved during this week of environmental appreciation.🌳💚

To register and learn more, visit our website at www.littleforks.org/events.

04/09/2026

Interested in helping to reduce local dependency on invasive ornamental plants? Join your local Go Beyond Beauty hub!
Businesses, organizations, and individuals within Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford Counties can now show their commitment to not selling high priority invasive ornamentals by joining the free, non-regulatory GBB program. The participant form is now live; check it out at https://www.gobeyondbeauty.org/north-country-cisma.html

In an adjacent county not yet included in the GBB map or have questions about the program? Contact [email protected].